The drunk overweight battle mage Thraxas and the hot gladiator Makri will solve another case but some of them may die in the process.

Thraxas is an easy character to relate to as his primary superpower is persistence. We are allowed to have that ability. Makri is more complicated. Being an elf-ork-human, walking everywhere in a metal bikini, and killing criminals left and right, she's more complex, to say the least. Much harder to be Makri.

There is no sexual tension between them and probably won't be. The book has some mild element of exploitation around Makri's modest clothing choices and the overall bloodshed but let's not forget that she's a murderous warrior who's killed thousands in her lifetime. She's more of a female Conan than a supporting character.